Murder and homicide have some of the most severe penalties compared to other criminal charges. Further, punishments are even more severe if the state charges someone with multiple counts of murder or homicide. In these instances, suspects who are found guilty of these offenses get death penalties or life sentences. That said, you can mitigate these consequences even when facing such serious accusations. However, to do this, you must hire a legal advisor to represent you in your case. This way, you can avoid the consequences discussed below.
Possible Consequences of a Murder Conviction
There are different penalties for murder offenses, depending on the circumstances of the case. In most cases, suspects who had premeditated or considered the felony get the most severe consequences. For example, this is when a person crafts a plan to kill someone before the murder happens. However, suspects also get a severe punishment if they commit an additional crime deemed a felony before killing someone. For instance, they may get a lengthy jail sentence if the prosecuting officer charges them with human trafficking. This is also the case if a suspect tortures an older adult, child, or disabled person, and the suffering causes death.
You should know that suspects who cause death through sexual battery or in a carjacking incident also get harsh judgments when they appear in court. So, if the court finds you guilty of these consequences, you could spend the rest of your life behind bars. The judge might also sentence you to death. Therefore, if you're facing murder charges, hire a legal advisor to defend you and avoid getting a harsh judgment.
Fighting the Charges With the Help of an Attorney
If the state charges you with murder, your top priority is proving that you're not guilty. One of the ways to do this is by getting evidence to distance yourself from the incident. Hence, your attorney can help you determine the most helpful evidence, depending on the circumstances of your case. They will also get eyewitnesses to explain that you were not at the location when the murder happened.
Additionally, they will get people who have known you for a long time to provide character testimony to prove that you are incapable of murder. Expert witnesses may also provide physiological analysis to show that there was no possibility that you were the one who committed the crime. Ultimately, this might convince the judge to reduce your sentence or drop your charges.
As the information above explains, a judge can lessen or drop your murder charges if certain evidence comes to light. This is why you need to hire a criminal defense attorney to defend you as soon as the police arrest you for murder. This way, they will gather compelling evidence and get witnesses to testify for you by the time you appear in court.
To learn more, consult a criminal defense lawyer.